Study on the simulation and experiment of cantilever beam piezoelectric energy harvester

Abstract

Owing great to the widespread application of wireless sensor networks, supply energy for these wireless sensors proves to be a significant issue. Moreover, for the ambient vibration lies everywhere, the vibration can supply energy for the wireless sensor via energy harvester. The single cantilever beam piezoelectric energy harvester becomes the research focus for the simple structure and higher energy conversion efficiency. Due to the transcendental equation in distributed parameter model, the numerical method is become powerful complement for theoretical and experimental method. Static analysis, model analysis, harmonic response analysis and mechanical-electrical coupling analysis are simulated in ANSYS. Four aspects of the harvester has been studied in detail. Test and measurement show that Geometry and shape parameters have great affect to piezoelectric single cantilever energy harvester. In addition, the inherent characteristics of piezoelectric patch will affect enormously on the electrical characteristics.